Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698941887745.pdf (South Africa)
Wednesday, 19 April 2023 96 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES ________________________ INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER ________________________ NOTE: 1.

2.

† Indicates translated version of the question.

 Indicates a question for oral reply.
Table of Contents ECONOMICS Cluster 4A Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development .............. 97, 98, 99, 102, 103 Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment .............. 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104 Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy ................................................... 97, 99, 101, 104 Page (Replies to be submitted to: ncopquestions@parliament.gov.za) 97 Wednesday, 19 April 2023 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY TUESDAY, 2 MAY 2023 Load shedding on farming 1.
Mr N M Hadebe (KwaZulu-Natal: IFP) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: What measures has her department put in place to aid the dairy farmers in mitigating the impact of constant disruptions by load shedding to farming since January 2023 (details furnished), especially that such farms are already heavily reliant on generators?

CO264E Repairing sewage infrastructure 2.


Mr N M Hadebe (KwaZulu-Natal: IFP) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: With reference to the recorded water quality results at the end of 2022 (details furnished), how has her department worked together with other relevant departments to repair sewage infrastructure, as sewage spills were the reason for beach closures?

CO265E Awarding expansion licence 3.
Mr N M Hadebe (KwaZulu-Natal: IFP) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: With reference to the awarding of a licence to a certain company (details furnished) to expand its coal mining activities at the Somkhele mine in KwaZulu-Natal and that such licence was blocked by the Pretoria High Court, how has his department adapted its assessment of mining companies prior to awarding expansion licenses, especially taking into account how such companies have environmentally impacted local communities?
CO266E Small scale farmers 4.
Mr M J Magwala (Western Cape: EFF) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Whether, with reference to the reported underspending of R1.5 billion in the 2021/22 financial year (details furnished), such underspending (a) negatively affected small scale farmers and (b) prevented them from progressing to large scale farming; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what recent interventions were made to increase market participation of emerging farmers?
CO267E Wednesday, 19 April 2023 98 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Assistance to small scale farmers 5.

Ms B T Mathevula (Limpopo: EFF) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: What measures has her department put in place to assist small scale farmers in Limpopo who struggle with production as a result of constant load shedding that poses long-term risks to the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole?

CO268E Status of farms 6.
Mr M S Moletsane (Free State: EFF) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: (1) (a) What is the status of the 139 farms in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State which were handed over to Eskom in September 2020 as security on the Council’s more than R3.4 billion debt and (b) what happened to the persons who were operating such farms; (2) whether the title deeds of the properties are still with Eskom; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO269E Budget for training 7.

Mr K Motsamai (Gauteng: EFF) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: What is the total allocated budget for training of ordinary citizens for agricultural cultivation so that they are provided with land, seeds and other required resources to ensure food security is stabilised in the country?

CO270E Construction of fish hatchery 8.


Mr M S Moletsane (Free State: EFF) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (1) What is the status of the fish hatchery that was launched by the then Member of the Executive Council in the Letsemeng Local Municipality in the Free State in August 2012; (2) whether such hatchery is still operational; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is its success rate and (b) how many job opportunities has it created for the Letsemeng community?
CO271E 99 Wednesday, 19 April 2023 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Assistance to residents 9.

Mr M S Moletsane (Free State: EFF) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: What assistance has been provided to the residents who were affected by collapse of the walls of the Jagersfontein Dam in the Free State in September 2022?

CO272E Companies mining on grave sites 10.


Mr K Motsamai (Gauteng: EFF) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: (a) What interventions has his department made in instances where mining companies mine on grave sites, destroying graves as is the case in the North West (details furnished), (b) what reparation methods have been initiated to compensate the affected communities in this regard and (c) what steps have been taken to return portions of their stolen land?
CO273E Relief from diseases 11.

Ms C Visser (North West: DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: In light of the Onderstepoort Biological Products that failed for 10 years to produce essential vaccines such as African Horse Sickness (AHS) which has now created a man-made disaster, what steps will she take to ensure the immediate relief from diseases such as AHS, Blue Tongue, Rift Valley Fever, anti-snake venom and Rabies?

CO274E Shortage of vaccines 12.


Ms C Visser (North West: DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: In light of the huge shortage of African Horse Disease vaccines for two years, how will citizens who have lost their livelihoods (details furnished) be compensated for the loss as a result of the failure of a state-owned entity which was established by the Onderstepoort Biological Products Incorporation Act, 1999 (Act No.
19 of 1999), that is responsible for the development, manufacturing and distribution of animal vaccines in South Africa and beyond borders?

CO275E Forestry land being leased 13.
Ms C Labuschagne (Western Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (1) (a) What is the remaining total number of forestry packaged land that has been put up for lease in the Western Cape as part of bid inviting proposal to interested parties, (b) how many proposals (i) were received and (ii) are being evaluated and (c) what is the breakdown between the (i) private sector and (ii) communities regarding such proposals; Wednesday, 19 April 2023 100 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT (2) (3) whether any existing human settlements and/or communities are involved in the forestry land that forms part of the bid inviting proposals in the Western Cape; whether the remaining forestry land in the rest of South Africa will be managed in the same way as in the Western Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO276E Outstanding land claims 14.
Ms C Labuschagne (Western Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (a) How many of the 152 land claims on forestry land that were still (i) outstanding or (ii) not being settled and (iii) not been resolved since the presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in the National Assembly in March 2022 and (b) how many of the existing outstanding claims her department is in discussions to (i) continue to lease for forestry purposes through section 27 of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No.
84 of 1998), or (ii) be manage by communities who wish to continue with forestry through section 29 of the said Act or (iii) be transferred to communities in line with the Commercial Forestry Masterplan where the private sector will participate as investors?

CO277E Extension of life of coal-fired power stations 15.
Ms C Labuschagne (Western Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: With reference to a proposed option to extend the life of coal-fired power stations by the Minister of Electricity in a recent press conference(details furnished), how will such a decision impact on (a) Cabinet’s approved Just Energy Transmission Investment Plan and the R130 million of international donors and (b) the requirement that all power stations have to comply with 2020 Minimum Emissions Standards by 31 March 2025, including those that were given permission to postpone implementation?
CO278E Development of wildlife crime strategy 16.

Ms C Labuschagne (Western Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (1) Whether, with reference to her statement in an Oral Question session in October 2019 (details furnished), the development of a wildlife crime strategy has been approved by Cabinet; if not, why not; if so, (2) whether the task team has been formed; if not, why not?
CO279E 101 Wednesday, 19 April 2023 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Energy Action Plan 17.

Mr M Nhanha (Eastern Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: What progress has been made with regard to the Energy Action Plan that was announced by the President on 25 July 2022?

CO280E Implementation of court judgement 18.


Mr M Nhanha (Eastern Cape: DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: Whether the Makhanda High Court judgement of 1 September 2022 that set aside a decision by his department to grant a certain company (name furnished) exploration rights to conduct a seismic survey off the Wild Coast as a result of inadequate consultation with communities regarding the proposed project has been implemented?

CO281E Mining exploration in North West 19.
Mr S F Du Toit (North West: FF-Plus) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: (1) Whether his department considered (a) the impact of mining on underground water resources regarding the proposed mining exploration by a certain company (details furnished) in the Ventersdorp area in North West and (b) how pollution of this essential subterranean water source will affect the surrounding farming communities’ livelihood that depend on it; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he will reconsider such application in light of the potential harm that mining activities could cause to agriculture and food security in the North West; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO282E Measures to contain tailings 20.

Mr M A P De Bruyn (Free State: FF-Plus) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: With reference to the Jagersfontein disaster in September 2022 which resulted in the pollution of almost all rivers, streams, dams and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, why her department has not taken the necessary measures to contain the tailings and prevent further contamination of the area, particularly prior to the start of the rainy season?
CO283E Wednesday, 19 April 2023 102 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Shortage of animal vaccines 21.
Mr M A P De Bruyn (Free State: FF-Plus) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: (1) Whether, with regard to animal vaccines that are still out of stock, any vaccines are available to import from other countries; if not, why not; if so, (a) which vaccines and (b) from which countries; (2) (3) whether her department will endeavour to import from such countries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; what long term solution her department will have to satisfactorily meet the vaccine demands?
CO284E Protocols for citrus exports 22.
Ms T C Modise (North West: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: (1) Whether any progress has been made in resolving the long-standing fight over phytosanitary protocols for citrus exports; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (3) whether this includes a petition that was filed by a certain citrus products manufacturer (details furnished) in 2022 to initiate an anti-dumping investigation against exporters of lemon juice concentrate from South Africa and Brazil; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; whether her department has initiated any measures to protect the country’s citrus export industry, particularly the current profitable exports to the United States of America; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO285E Outbreak of African swine fever 23.
Ms L C Bebee (KwaZulu-Natal: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: (1) Whether her department has any measures to monitor the potential outbreak of the highly contagious African swine fever in Gauteng, the North West and the Free State; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department has placed any farms under precautionary quarantine in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO286E 103 Wednesday, 19 April 2023 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Surveillance measures for diseases 24.

Ms L C Bebee (KwaZulu-Natal: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Whether her department has any strict surveillance measures in place for the coming winter season regarding diseases such as avian flu, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO287E Price swings of fertiliser 25.

Mr I Ntsube (Free State: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Whether her department considered any measures to protect South African growers from wild price swings of fertiliser prices as a result of the weakened rand against foreign currencies; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

CO288E Anticipated locust outbreaks 26.


Mr Z Mkiva (Eastern Cape: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Whether, in light of the anticipated locust outbreaks in the 2022/23 season, her department has finalised the locust officers’ contracts to assist in minimising the harm of the looming disaster of locust infestation; if not, why not; if so, (a) what plans are in place to ensure that this matter is speedily resolved and (b) what are the further relevant details?
CO289E Wheat production 27.
Mr A J Nyambi (Mpumalanga: ANC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Whether, in light of the Ukraine-Russia conflict which endangered crucial wheat supplies in many of the least developed countries in the world (details furnished), her department has any measures to (a)(i) encourage and (ii) support the production of wheat in South Africa and (b) attract more farmers to stay and/or join the wheat production industry; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO290E Conservation of wetlands 28.

Mr I Ntsube (Free State: ANC) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (a) What is the significance of declaring Middelpunt Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga as South Africa’s 29th Wetland of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, (b) what is the role that is played by wetlands in our ecosystem and (c) what could be done by communities to assist in conserving wetlands?
CO291E Wednesday, 19 April 2023 104 [No 11—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT Challenges with small-scale fishers 29.

Ms L C Bebee (KwaZulu-Natal: ANC) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (1) What progress has been made regarding small-scale fishers as they feel marginalised to the benefit of large fishing companies (details furnished); (2) whether the identified challenges have been addressed in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CO292E Second Local Government Environment Indaba 30.

Ms W Ngwenya (Gauteng: ANC) to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: (a) What are the positive results of the Second Local Government Environment Indaba that was in collaboration with the SA Local Government Association and (b) how it contributes to a clean environment?

CO293E Deaths in SA mining industry 31.


Ms T C Modise (North West: ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: (1) What are the major contributing factors towards the decline in the number of deaths in the South African mining industry over the past decades; (2) whether any plans are in place to permanently eliminate such deaths; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

CO294E Mineral beneficiation 32.


Ms L C Bebee (KwaZulu-Natal: ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: What are the major (a) achievements and (b) challenges of the mineral beneficiation as it has become one of the major drivers in advancing the empowerment of historically disadvantaged communities in South Africa?

CO295E Discovery of natural gas 33.


Mr Z Mkiva (Eastern Cape: ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: How will the discovery of natural gas in Namibia and Mozambique influence the gas industry in South Africa?

CO296E